MISSION & PHILOSOPHY The St. Joseph Program is designed to promote a positive, Catholic, college preparatory, educational, and social experience for a select group of students with diagnosed learning differences.
Bishop McNamara High School
The St. Joseph Program is staffed with highly qualified special and general education professionals dedicated to empowering students to think on their own, take responsibility for their decisions, and become life-long learners.
The St. Joseph Program “We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart.
Contact Information
Mrs. Alicia Brown Coordinator of St. Joseph Program Department Chair, Student Support
While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for heaven.” ~ Blessed Basil Moreau
alicia.brown@bmhs.org 301.735.8401 Ext. 150
Bishop McNamara is a Holy Cross, college-preparatory school.
6800 Marlboro Pike · Forestville, MD 20747 Phone: (301) 75-8401 Fax: (301) 735-0934 Student Services Website www.bmhs.org/academics/student-support-programs
About Us
The St. Joseph Program
Types of Student Support
The St. Joseph Program is proud to offer individualized and small-group assistance while maintaining high expectations. Established in 2010, the program extends and formalizes the support given to Bishop McNamara High School students with learning differences. The St. Joseph Program provides reasonable accommodations based on the recommendations in the psychoeducational evaluation and in consultation with teachers and school counselors. The St. Joseph Program admits students who have documented learning differences and need accommodations to manage the rigors of a college preparatory curriculum. As the program accepts 10-15 students annually, early application with complete documentation is encouraged. Admission to the program requires the submission of recent psychoeducational testing along with an application to the St. Joseph Program and an application for admission to Bishop McNamara High School. Incoming freshmen must complete a four-week summer program prior to their 9th grade year. The summer program includes reading and mathematics content paired with skill development and orientation activities for high school.
Classroom Support The support given to students in the classroom is guided by our team of skilled content-area instructors in collaboration with the St. Joseph Program staff and the Counseling staff. The teachers implement the interventions and accommodations. Families, teachers, counselors, and administrators work together to support all of our St. Joseph Program students.
• Individualized Accommodations Plan based on testing recommendations and student needs • The teaching of effective strategies for studying, test-taking, organization, note-taking, and other academic skills • Direct support of identified needs • Writing assistance • Access to technology and learning resources • Observations in content-area classes • Progress monitoring • Weekly grade checks • After school and scheduled study halls
A St. Joseph Program staff is available during the summer school session for incoming St. Joseph freshmen, easing their transition to high school. The St. Joseph staff is dedicated to the success of each student.